Putnam County—This evening at 6:10, Indiana State Police troopers and Putnam County emergency agencies responded to the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the 43 mile marker for a multi-vehicle crash.

Preliminary investigation revealed eastbound traffic was stopped for construction when a 2007 Volvo tractor pulling a box trailer and driven by Jordan Moore, age 27, of Quebec, Canada failed to stop and struck a silver, 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pickup in the rear driven by William Bertelmann, age 60, of Burleson, Texas. The pickup then veered to the right and overturned off the south edge of the roadway. The tractor-trailer continued forward and struck the rear of a 1991 BMW passenger car. The BMW then burst into flames and struck the rear of a gray 2010 Kia driven by Willie Clemmons, age 75, of Cahokia, IL.

Motorists at the scene were able to extricate the adult female front seat passenger of the BMW and attempted first-aid measures. The female, however, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The unnamed motorists, along with Indiana State Police trooper Yan Dravigne and Cloverdale Police Officer Charlie Hallam, were unable to extricate a toddler from the rear seat and the toddler, believed to be the three-year-old daughter of the deceased female passenger, was also pronounced deceased at the scene. The 47-year-old male driver of the BMW is believed to be the husband and father of the deceased female victims. He was transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment of neck and back pain. The family name of those in the BMW is not being released at this time, but is believed to be from the state of Mississippi. Positive identification of the deceased is underway by Putnam County Deputy Coroners Dave Brown and Steve Walters.

Moore was ejected from his tractor-trailer unit and airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment of fractures and internal injuries. Bertelmann was transported to Methodist Hospital for head pain. Clemmons was not injured.

The tractor-trailer company was Transport Jocelyn Bourdeau (TJB) of Quebec, Canada.

The eastbound lane was opened around 10:30 this evening, but the right (driving) lane remains closed for cleanup.

The crash investigation is underway by ISP trooper Dan Criswell. Assisting were multiple ISP troopers, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Coroner’s Office, Putnam County Operation Life, Cloverdale Police Department and Cloverdale Township Fire/Rescue